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Japanese flag from Iwo Jima


RichRaider
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I have had this flag for about two years. I haven’t posted it yet, but decided to put it up now that I have a few more items to display it with. The flag has approximately 138 different signatures of Marines from the 5th Marine Division on it. It also has there home towns under most of names. A few have nick names or personal messages to the owner of the flag (i.e., “Good Luck”). I have found several articles about different Marines and there experience on Iwo Jima from names on the flag. The link below is one such article about Eugene Mack.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/03/marine_remembers_the_battle_fo.html

 

I displayed it with some Marine Raider items and my M1 fixed bail with 1st pattern cover. I know the flag was not from a Marine Raider, but it just a display and not a grouping.

 

post-164442-0-65104300-1483218347_thumb.jpg

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This photo shows Mr. Mack’s signature (above and left of Raider patch). You can also see blood from the previous owner. I hope you all can see it. The 150KB limit kills the photo quality.

post-164442-0-23444000-1483218668_thumb.jpg

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Hi,

 

It's a great looking set, and makes a nice presentation!! Lovely piece, thank you for sharing!

 

 

Kind regards

 

Jeb

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Another forum member asked me to list the names from the flag I have so he could try and match them to people his grandfather knew. Many of the signatures are small and hard to read, but I am in the process of listing the info and have sent him a few PM’s. This is the list I have compiled so far. I am providing the information as I see it on the flag. Some of it may be a little off, but I am doing my best to get it cataloged. I will finish as soon as I can (could take a few days).

 

Gordon S. Ferrell

Seale, Ala.

Andrew F Rogers

St louis, Mo.

G.E. Ross

Box 119

Cane Hill, Arkansas.

Eugene Q. Molek

Chicago, Illinois.

Leo D. Sheley

Markle Ind.

RR#1

Arthur M. White (Red)

29 Sterling Place

Springdale, Conn

Floyd M. Holmes

RR 4

Eldorado, Kansas.

Fred Miketa

1935 Stone

(??town??)

M.C. Brown

R#3

Columbia, S.C.

Ralph W. Lewis

230 S. Chestnut St.

Clarksburg, W. Va

Thomas F. Brown

Route one

Goodwater, Ala.

W.L. Tyler

141 Water St

(??not sure??)

A L Stoner

RR#2

Germantown, Ohio

 

Paul E. Miller

127 W. Fredrick

Millersville, Pa.

John L. Steele

1011 Fair Ave

Fountain City, Tennessee.

John H. Stone

New (???)

S.C.

Robert Tulley

313 West Elm St.

East Rochester

New York

Reed Miller

Amity

Pa.

Philip Scarlett (Looks like Philep on the flag, but could be wrong).

Box 71

(??town??)

John E. Cahill

C “Street

Hopkinton, Mass.

W.J. Hilderbrant

Route 4 Box 160

Norfolk, VA

Bob Taft

168 Townsend Ave

New Haven

Conn.

Jim Sheets

911 North 6th St.

Lafayette, Ind.

George Burton

Ogden, Utah

R.P. Newell

Phila. Penna. (thats what it says)

Robert C. Hess

826 Union St

Ashland, Ohio.

L.D.J. Hubbard

Fine

New York

William G. Hebert

18 Grape St.

Chicopee, Mass.

Ralph Denaido

1143 Stone Ave

McKees Rocks,

Penna.

Harlan D. Lester

Rutland, Vt.

Glenn E. Phillips

Perry, Iowa.

Carlile Mc(???)

Woodbury, Ga.

Frank Christopher

47 Capital Ave.

Waterbury, Conn.

Eugene F. Mack

19th St.

Norwalk, Ohio.

John V. Harris

Route 31

Poughkeepsie N.Y.

William Haig

3516 N. 2nd St

Philadelphia, PA.

C.W Reynolds Jr.

Buffalo, N.Y.

Arthur E. Long

2836 Telegraph Ave.

Berkeley, California.

J.C. Waters

RT 2 Box 545

Irving, Texas.

O.C. Torrans

1415 W 5th St

Texarkana, Texas.

Ben Ross

Granville, N.Y.

Floyd E. Railey Jr.

Kanssas City, Mo.

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Leatherneck72

My great uncle brought home a signed flag with his buddies names and towns done just like this. He was with 2/7 on Okinawa.

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ViewfinderGyrene

My great uncle brought home a signed flag with his buddies names and towns done just like this. He was with 2/7 on Okinawa.

 

What Company in 2/7 sir? Over the summer I was able to get a katana from a Lt. in E Company 2/7 that he took on Okinawa [his only engagement].

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello, I was reading the names, and saw W J Hilderbrant. Norfolk, VA. I knew and worked with some Hilderbrandt's 35 years ago in Norfolk. I know there related. Anyway, I looked up this Marine. Capt. Walter John Hilderbrant. He fought on Iwo Jima, Okinawa, And Chosin Reservior! He enlisted 10 Mar 1933 and retired 30 Apr 1960. What a career. Amazing.....Congratulations on being the caretaker of this one.

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